MainStreet DeLand 40th Anniversary
Est. 1985
Our Beginnings
In the fall of 1984, the idea of a MainStreet Association was born. The Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board (DRAB) formulated the idea through contacts with the State of Florida.
The idea was pitched to then Chamber Executive Director, Dal Ritchey, by Sid Corhern, Chuck McMahan, and Allan Cajacob. Mr. Ritchey supported the idea and worked with the initial executive board now fondly known as the “Magnificent Seven.”
Those dedicated community members were:
Richard Kelton (Government Consultant), President
Jim West (Stetson Flower) Vice President
Donna Lutz (Realtor) Secretary
Michael (Mick) Aleno (Florida Bank) Treasurer
Steve Burley (Volusia/Lake/Flagler Private Industry Council)
Jim Stepp (Stepp Office Supply)
John Gregory (Feasel’s Paint and Glass)
On February 19, 1985, MainStreet DeLand Association, Inc. was named the “Number One” Florida Main Street. Twenty cities had submitted for this honor, and only five were chosen.
Mayor Jim Ed Summerhill proclaimed March 4, 1985 as MainStreet Day in DeLand, and on March 14, 1985 the first official meeting of the MainStreet DeLand Association was held.
Celebrating Four Decades in the Community
In 2025, the MainStreet DeLand Association was proud to celebrate its 40th anniversary! For four decades, our dedicated organization has worked to preserve the historic charm of DeLand while fostering a vibrant downtown community. Through countless events, partnerships, and revitalization efforts, we have contributed to the growth and success of our beloved city. As always, we continue to honor our past and look forward to an exciting future. Thank you for being part of the MainStreet DeLand journey!
Events
Events are a large part of how we meet our mission to support the economic health of Downtown DeLand. In 40 years, we have brought approximately 4,000,000 visitors through our signature special events like the DeLand Craft Show and Light Up DeLand.
Sponsorships
As we continue to celebrate over 40 years of MainStreet DeLand Association, we’re excited to offer sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals who want to be part of this special and important work. Sponsoring is a great way to show your support for the DeLand community while gaining valuable exposure throughout the year. You can join us in making this year unforgettable!
Ways you can Volunteer
We invite you to get involved by volunteering during our events! Volunteering is a wonderful way to support our community, meet new people, and play a key role in making our events a success. Follow the link below to sign up to receive notifications when we have volunteer opportunities.